Air embolization prevention system

ABSTRACT

The invention generally relates to an intravascular catheter that includes a proximal hub and a distal elongated tubular member. In one embodiment, the hub is designed to mitigate the introduction of air into a patient&#39;s vasculature during the delivery of a second device through the catheter into the patient&#39;s body.

CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATION

This application incorporates by reference, and claims priority to andthe benefit of, U.S. provisional application Ser. No. 60/523,565, whichwas filed on Nov. 20, 2003.

TECHNICAL FIELD

The invention generally relates to a catheter, and related methods, forintroducing a device into the body of a patient. More particularly, theinvention relates to a catheter and related methods that mitigate,during an interventional procedure, the passage of air through thecatheter into the patient's body.

BACKGROUND INFORMATION

An intravascular catheter is often used by cardiologists and/orradiologists in intravascular procedures. Typically, during suchprocedures, the catheter is first inserted into a patient's body and asecond device is then inserted into a lumen of the catheter and,optionally, also into the patient's body.

A risk inherent with such interventional procedures is the inadvertentintroduction of air into the catheter lumen when the second device isinserted therein. With the catheters known in the art, the introducedair may find its way into the patient's vascular system and thereafterblock, for example, a vessel in the lungs, the brain, or the heart.Adverse consequences, such as, for example, acute pulmonary embolism,myocardial infarction, stroke, and possibly death, can therefore result.

Thoroughly flushing the lumens of the catheters known in the art is astandard procedure used to prevent the introduction of air into thepatient's vascular system. Nevertheless, despite flushing, even the mostexperienced physician, carefully using the proper technique for theinterventional procedure in question, may still introduce air into thepatient's vascular system.

Improved intravascular catheters that mitigate the introduction of airinto the patient's vascular system are, therefore, needed.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

The invention generally relates to an intravascular catheter thatincludes a proximal hub and a distal elongated tubular member.Typically, the hub remains outside a patient's body during a clinicalprocedure, while the elongated tubular member is inserted into thepatient's vasculature. The hub is designed to mitigate the introductionof air into the patient's vasculature during the delivery of a seconddevice through the inventive catheter into the patient's body. Thesecond device may be, for example, another catheter (e.g., anangiocatheter), a stent, a filter, a septal occluder, a device forobliterating the left atrial appendage, a suture, a staple, or anadhesive.

According to one feature, the hub of the inventive intravascularcatheter includes a reservoir for trapping air bubbles that have beenintroduced into the hub, thereby impeding the air bubbles from migratingthroughout the catheter and into the patient's vascular system.According to another feature, the hub includes an air permeable porousmember, either in addition to, or as an alternative to, the reservoir.The air permeable porous member allows air bubbles that have beenintroduced into the hub to escape the hub into the surroundingenvironment outside the patient. Air bubbles inadvertently introducedinto the catheter are prevented, therefore, from finding their way intothe patient's vascular system.

In one aspect, the invention relates to an intravascular catheter. Theintravascular catheter includes an elongated tubular member and a hub.The elongated tubular member includes a proximal end, a distal end, anda lumen that extends from the proximal end to the distal end. The hubincludes a first end, a second end, and a reservoir that includes atleast one pocket. The second end of the hub is coupled to the proximalend of the elongated tubular member. The hub reservoir extends from thefirst end of the hub to the second end of the hub, and the at least onepocket of the hub reservoir is partially shielded from the lumen of theelongated tubular member.

Various embodiments of this aspect of the invention include thefollowing features. The hub may include an air permeable membranepositioned, for example, through a surface of the hub between the firstend and the second end of the hub, or through a surface of the hub at atleast one of the first end and the second end of the hub. Moreover, thehub may include a valve and/or a flushing port. Additionally, the hubmay be made of a transparent material. In yet another embodiment, atleast a portion of the hub reservoir has a cross-sectional diameter thatis greater in size than a cross-sectional diameter of the lumen of theelongated tubular member.

In still another embodiment, the hub includes a first sealing glandpositioned, for example, at the first end of the hub. At least a portionof the distal surface of the first sealing gland may be angled towardsthe first end of the hub. Moreover, in one embodiment, the first sealinggland includes a plurality of pores. In yet another embodiment, the hubincludes a second sealing gland positioned, for example, at the secondend of the hub. At least a portion of the proximal surface of the secondsealing gland may be angled towards the second end of the hub. In afurther embodiment, the hub includes an opening, which is in fluidcommunication with the hub reservoir, at the first end of the hub.

In another aspect, the invention provides an intravascular catheter. Theintravascular catheter includes an elongated tubular member and a hub.The elongated tubular member includes a proximal end, a distal end, anda first lumen that extends from the proximal end to the distal end. Thehub includes a first end, a second end coupled to the proximal end ofthe elongated tubular member, a second lumen that extends from the firstend to the second end of the hub, and an air permeable porous member.

In one embodiment of this aspect of the invention, the air permeableporous member is a gland positioned at the first end of the hub. Inanother embodiment, the air permeable porous member is a membranepositioned between the first end and the second end of the hub. The airpermeable porous member may be coated with or impregnated with, forexample, a low thrombogenicity material or drug, such as, for example,heparin or hyaluronic acid.

In yet other aspects, the invention provides methods for inserting anintravascular catheter into the body of a patient. The methods includeproviding an intravascular catheter as described above and inserting theintravascular catheter into a vessel of the patient.

The foregoing and other objects, aspects, features, and advantages ofthe invention will become more apparent from the following descriptiontaken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

In the drawings, like reference characters generally refer to the sameparts throughout the different views. Also, the drawings are notnecessarily to scale, emphasis instead generally being placed uponillustrating the principles of the invention.

FIG. 1 is a schematic cross-sectional view of a portion of anintravascular catheter according to an illustrative embodiment of theinvention.

FIG. 2 is a schematic cross-sectional perspective view of the hub of theintravascular catheter portion illustrated in FIG. 1, taken at a line23-23 of FIG. 1, according to an illustrative embodiment of theinvention.

FIG. 3 is a schematic cross-sectional perspective view of the hub of theintravascular catheter portion illustrated in FIG. 1, taken at the line23-23 of FIG. 1, according to another illustrative embodiment of theinvention.

FIG. 4 is a schematic cross-sectional view of a portion of anintravascular catheter according to another illustrative embodiment ofthe invention.

FIG. 5 is a schematic cross-sectional view of a portion of anintravascular catheter according to yet another illustrative embodimentof the invention.

FIG. 6 is a schematic cross-sectional view of a portion of a deviceinserted, according to an illustrative embodiment of the invention, intothe illustrative intravascular catheter portion of FIG. 1.

FIG. 7 is a schematic cross-sectional view of a portion of anintravascular catheter according to still another illustrativeembodiment of the invention.

FIG. 8 is a schematic cross-sectional view of a portion of anintravascular catheter according to a further illustrative embodiment ofthe invention.

DESCRIPTION

In one aspect, the invention features an intravascular catheter thatincludes a hub. The hub is designed to mitigate the introduction of airinto a patient's vasculature when, for example, another catheter (e.g.,an angiocatheter), a stent, a filter, a septal occluder, a device forobliterating the left atrial appendage, a suture, a staple, or anadhesive is delivered through the intravascular catheter into thepatient's body.

FIG. 1 depicts a portion of an intravascular catheter 100 according toan illustrative embodiment of the invention. As shown in theillustrative embodiment, the intravascular catheter 100 includes anelongated tubular member 104 and a hub 108. The elongated tubular member104 includes a proximal end 112 (i.e., an end that is closest to aphysician when the physician is using the intravascular catheter 100),an opposite, distal end 116, and a lumen 120 that extends from theproximal end 112 to the distal end 116. For its part, in one embodiment,the hub 108 includes a proximal first end 124, an opposite, distalsecond end 128, and a reservoir 132 that extends from the first end 124to the second end 128. The hub 108 also includes a side wall 126 betweenthe first end 124 and the second end 128, a first external surface 130at its first end 124, and a second external surface 134 at its secondend 128.

The second end 128 of the hub 108 is joined to the proximal end 112 ofthe elongated tubular member 104. In one embodiment, the hub 108 and theelongated tubular member 104 are, in fact, one integral component formedby, for example, injection molding. In another embodiment, the hub 108and the elongated tubular member 104 are separate components joinedtogether by, for example, an adhesive or thermal bonding.

Referring still to FIG. 1, at least a portion of the illustrativereservoir 132 has a cross-sectional diameter 136 that is greater in sizethan a cross-sectional diameter 140 of the lumen 120 of the elongatedtubular member 104. Moreover, the illustrative reservoir 132 includes,in one embodiment, at least one pocket 138. For example, the reservoir132 includes, as shown, two pockets 138 a and 138 b. The pockets 138 a,138 b are partially shielded from the lumen 120 of the elongated tubularmember 104 by hub extensions 135 a, 135 b, respectively. The hubextensions 135 a, 135 b are incomplete partitions that extend, forexample, from the second end 128 of the hub 108 into the reservoir 132in a direction towards the first end 124 of the hub 108.

FIG. 2 depicts a schematic cross-sectional perspective view of the hub108 of the intravascular catheter 100 illustrated in FIG. 1, taken at aline 23-23 of FIG. 1, according to an illustrative embodiment of theinvention. The exemplary hub 108 depicted in FIG. 2 includes acylindrical portion 102 whose outer circumference 114 is greater than,and projects beyond, an outer circumference 118 of the elongated tubularmember 104. The reservoir 132 of the hub 108 also projects beyond theouter circumference 118 of the elongated tubular member 104, such thatthe cross-sectional diameter 136 of the reservoir 132 is greater in sizethan the cross-sectional diameter 140 of the lumen 120 of the elongatedtubular member 104 (see FIG. 1).

FIG. 3 depicts a schematic cross-sectional perspective view of the hub108 of the intravascular catheter 100 illustrated in FIG. 1, taken atthe line 23-23 of FIG. 1, according to yet another illustrativeembodiment of the invention. The exemplary hub 108 depicted in FIG. 3includes a cylindrical portion 102 and one or more projections 106, forexample projections 106 a and 106 b. The outer circumference 114 of thecylindrical portion 102 of the hub 108 is co-extensive with the outercircumference 118 of the elongated tubular member 104. The reservoir 132extends into the one or more projections 106, which project beyond theouter circumference 118 of the elongated tubular member 104. Referringto FIGS. 1 and 3, the cross-sectional diameter 136 of the reservoir 132is, in an area of the reservoir 132 that includes, and that extendsinto, the one or more projections 106, greater in size than thecross-sectional diameter 140 of the lumen 120 of the elongated tubularmember 104.

Referring still to FIG. 3, the one or more projections 106 may bedistributed at any location(s) around the outer circumference 114 of thecylindrical portion 102. For example, one projection 106 b may bedistributed at 0° and one projection 106 a may be distributed at 180°,as illustrated in FIG. 3. In use, a physician may orient at least oneprojection 106 that extends beyond the outer circumference 118 of theelongated tubular member 104 away from the earth's center of gravity(e.g., projection 106 b, as illustrated). As explained below, thereservoir 132 will be filled by blood. Thus, by positioning, forexample, the projection 106 b away from the earth's center of gravity,air introduced into the reservoir 132 will migrate away from the earth'scenter of gravity and into the portion of the reservoir 132 located inthe projection 106 b.

Referring again to FIGS. 1 and 3, in one embodiment of the intravascularcatheter 100 according to the invention, the hub 108 and the reservoir132 each include two portions 122 that extend beyond the outercircumference 118 of the elongated tubular member 104. Alternatively, inanother embodiment of the intravascular catheter 100, referring now toFIG. 4, the hub 108 includes two portions 122 that extend beyond theouter circumference 118 of the elongated tubular member 104. Thereservoir 132 includes but one portion 122 that extends beyond the outercircumference 118 of the elongated tubular member 104.

In yet another embodiment, referring now to FIG. 5, the hub 108 and thereservoir 132 each include only one portion 122 that extends beyond theouter circumference 118 of the elongated tubular member 104.Alternatively, in further embodiments, the hub 108 and the reservoir 132may each include any number of portions 122 that extend beyond the outercircumference 118 of the elongated tubular member 104.

In use, a physician may orient at least one portion 122 of the reservoir132 that extends beyond the outer circumference 118 of the elongatedtubular member 104 away from the earth's center of gravity. Accordingly,air introduced into the reservoir 132 will migrate away from the earth'scenter of gravity, through the blood located in the reservoir 132, andinto the portion 122 of the reservoir 132 that is oriented away from theearth's center of gravity.

Other shapes and configurations of the hub 108 and/or reservoir 132 arealso possible. The invention is not limited to the illustrated shapesand configurations of the hub 108 and reservoir 132.

FIG. 6 depicts a portion of an exemplary device 152 inserted, accordingto an illustrative embodiment of the invention, into the illustrativeintravascular catheter 100, after the intravascular catheter 100 hasbeen inserted into the patient's body. The exemplary device 152 may be,for example, another catheter (e.g., an angiocatheter), a stent, afilter, or a front-end loader for delivering a device, such as a septaloccluder, a device for obliterating the left atrial appendage, a suture,a staple, or an adhesive, to the heart of a patient.

Referring both to FIG. 1 and FIG. 6, in one embodiment, the hub 108includes an opening 110 at its first end 124. Another feature of the hub108 is, for example, a first sealing gland 144, which may also bepositioned at the first end 124 of the hub 108. The opening 110 of thehub 108 is in fluid communication with the reservoir 132 of the hub 108.In one embodiment, the opening 110 of the hub 108 is in fluidcommunication with the reservoir 132 of the hub 108 through the firstsealing gland 144. The exemplary first sealing gland 144 may beconstructed of, for example, a resilient elastomer material that sealsaround the device 152 when the device 152 is inserted through theopening 110 of the hub 108 into the reservoir 132 of the hub 108.

Optionally, referring still to FIGS. 1 and 6, the exemplary hub 108 alsoincludes a second sealing gland 148 positioned, for example, at thesecond end 128 of the hub 108. Like the first sealing gland 144, theexemplary second sealing gland 148 may be constructed of, for example, aresilient elastomer that seals around the device 152 when the device 152is inserted into the lumen 120 of the elongated tubular member 104 ofthe intravascular catheter 100.

In one embodiment, as depicted in FIG. 7, at least a portion of thedistal surface 142 of the first sealing gland 144 angles towards thefirst end 124 of the hub 108 and/or at least a portion of the proximalsurface 146 of the second sealing gland 148 angles towards the secondend 128 of the hub 108. The angles to the surfaces 142, 146 promote thepassage of air bubbles 156 away from the center of the hub 108 towardsthe periphery of the hub 108.

Any combinations of sealing glands and positions of sealing glands,including the absence of a second sealing gland 148, is contemplated bythe invention. The combinations of sealing glands and positions ofsealing glands are not limited to those disclosed herein.

Referring again to FIG. 6, according to the invention, air bubbles 156introduced into the intravascular catheter 100, when the device 152 isinserted therein, are trapped by the reservoir 132 and prevented frommigrating distal to the second end 128 of the hub 108 into the lumen 120of the elongated tubular member 104. The air bubbles 156 are therebyimpeded from traversing distally through the lumen 120 of the elongatedtubular member 104 into the patient's vascular system.

In another aspect, the invention provides a method for performing aninterventional procedure that minimizes the risk of introducing a gas(e.g., air) into a patient's cardiovascular system. With reference stillto FIG. 6, in one embodiment, the physician inserts the intravascularcatheter 100 into the patient's body, while maintaining a long axis 160of a proximal portion of the intravascular catheter 100 substantiallyhorizontal. The physician then inserts the device 152 into the reservoir132 of the hub 108 and advances the device 152 into the lumen 120 of theelongated tubular member 104. The patient's blood fills the reservoir132 of the hub 108. Consequently, air bubbles 156 that were introducedinto the hub 108 by inserting the device 152 therein, having a smallerdensity than the patient's blood, immediately migrate towards a topportion 162 of the reservoir 132 (i.e., away from the earth's center ofgravity).

In one embodiment, during an interventional procedure, the air bubbles156 are retained in the top portion 162 of the reservoir 132. Forexample, after having inserted the device 152 into the intravascularcatheter 100, the physician rotates the intravascular catheter 100 fromthe position depicted in FIG. 6 in the direction indicated by arrows158. As a result, the air bubbles 156 are trapped by the pocket 138 band are impeded from entering the lumen 120 of the elongated tubularmember 104.

Optionally, to further ensure that the air bubbles 156 do not migrateinto the lumen 120 of the elongated tubular member 104, the hub 108further includes the second sealing gland 148 that is positioned at thesecond end 128 of the hub 108. In one such embodiment, the secondsealing gland 148 is impermeable to air.

The hub 108, during the course of an interventional procedure, remainsoutside the patient's body. Accordingly, in another embodiment, the hub108 includes an air permeable membrane 168 positioned, for example asillustrated in FIGS. 1 and 6, through the side wall 126 of the hub 108.Alternatively, the air permeable membrane 168 may be positioned throughthe first external surface 130 at the first end 124 of the hub 108 (notshown) or through the second external surface 134 at the second end 128of the hub 108 (not shown). The air permeable membrane 168 passivelyreleases (i.e., without any physician actuation) the air bubbles 156trapped by the reservoir 132 into the surrounding environment outsidethe patient. To operate as such, the air permeable membrane 168 may befabricated from a porous material. The porous material may be, forexample, any polymer foam fabricated from material such as silicone,polyurethane, and/or a thermoplastic elastomer (e.g.,styrene-ethylene-butadiene-styrene (SEBS)). Alternatively, the porousmaterial may be any polymer film or fabric, such as, for example, wovenor knitted polyester, expanded polytetrafluoroethylene (ePTFE) (i.e.,GORE-TEX®, which is manufactured by W. L. Gore & Associates, Inc. ofNewark, Del.), polyethyle-teraphalate film, polyethylene film, and/orpolyvinyl alcohol (PVA) film.

In one embodiment, the pore sizes in the air permeable membrane 168 arelarge enough to permit the air bubbles 156 to pass therethrough, but aresmall enough to prevent blood from permeating through the air permeablemembrane 168. Specifically, the pore sizes are smaller than the size ofred blood cells and white blood cells, but larger than the air moleculesforming the air bubbles 156. The pore sizes may be, for example, in therange of about 0.01 μm to about 4.0 μm, preferably about 0.1 μm to about1.0 μm.

In another embodiment, the air permeable membrane 168 is coated orimpregnated with a low thrombogenicity material. For example, the airpermeable membrane 168 may be coated and/or impregnated with heparin,hyaluronic acid, and/or another anti-thrombotic coating, agent,mammalian genetic and recombinant genetic material, or drug.

Like the air permeable membrane 168, in one embodiment according to theinvention, the above-described first sealing gland 144 is fabricatedfrom a porous material that includes a plurality of pores. The porousmaterial and the pore sizes may be, for example, of the type and sizedescribed above for the air permeable membrane 168. Accordingly, thefirst sealing gland 144 may also passively release (i.e., without anyphysician actuation) the air bubbles 156 trapped in the reservoir 132into the surrounding environment outside the patient, while maintainingblood inside the intravascular catheter 100. In a particular embodiment,the first sealing gland 144 includes a coating or is impregnated with alow thrombogenicity material, such as, for example, the materials listedabove for the air permeable membrane 168.

FIG. 7 depicts a portion of an intravascular catheter 100 according toanother illustrative embodiment of the invention. In this embodiment,the hub 108 includes an air release valve 172 to release the air bubbles156 trapped in the reservoir 132, as described above, into thesurrounding environment outside the patient. The air release valve 172may be positioned through the side wall 126 of the hub 108, asillustrated in FIG. 7, through the first external surface 130 at thefirst end 124 of the hub 108 (not shown), or through the second externalsurface 134 at the second end 128 of the hub 108 (not shown). In oneembodiment, the air release valve 172 requires manual actuation. Forexample, the air release valve 172 is a one way valve which includes abutton that is pushed to release the trapped air bubbles 156 from thereservoir 132 into the surrounding environment outside the patient.Alternatively, the air release valve 172 is a passive valve thatautomatically operates without manual actuation (e.g., a one way passivevalve, such as a check valve).

In yet another embodiment (not shown), the hub 108 includes both the airpermeable membrane 168 and the air release valve 172. In still anotherembodiment (not shown), the hub 108 includes more than one air permeablemembrane 168 and, additionally or alternatively, more than one airrelease valve 172.

In another embodiment, referring now to FIGS. 1, 6, and 7, the hub 108includes a flushing port 176. As shown, the exemplary flushing port 176is located through the side wall 126 of the hub 108. Alternatively, theflushing port 176 is located through the first external surface 130 ofthe hub 108 (not shown) or through the second external surface 134 ofthe hub 108 (not shown). In another embodiment (not shown), the hub 108includes more than one flushing port 176, each one of which is locatedthrough the side wall 126, the first external surface 130, or the secondexternal surface 134. Prior to placing the intravascular catheter 100into the body of a patient, the hub 108 of the intravascular catheter100 is flushed by infusing an appropriate solution, such as, forexample, sterile saline and/or heparin, through the flushing port 176 ofthe hub 108, thereby eliminating any air bubbles 156 present in thecatheter 100. Following placement of the intravascular catheter 100 inthe body of a patient, and following placement of the device 152 in theintravascular catheter 100, air bubbles 156 introduced into the hub 108of the intravascular catheter 100 may be aspirated from the hub 108 byattaching an appropriate device providing negative pressure to theflushing port 176 and aspirating the air bubbles 156 through theflushing port 176. Optionally, an appropriate solution, such as, forexample, sterile saline and/or heparin, may then be infused through theflushing port 176 of the hub 108 into the reservoir 132.

In a further embodiment, the exemplary hub 108 is constructed from atransparent material, such as, for example, a transparent plastic. Thisfeature advantageously permits direct observation of the air bubbles 156trapped by the reservoir 132. By observing the trapped air bubbles 156,the physician is alerted to appropriately actuate the actuateable airrelease valve 172 and/or to aspirate the air bubbles 156 through theflushing port 176.

FIG. 8 depicts a portion of an intravascular catheter 100′ according tostill another illustrative embodiment of the invention. Generallyspeaking, except for the differences set forth below, the intravascularcatheter 100′ has substantially the same structure as the intravascularcatheter 100 described above.

The illustrative embodiment of the intravascular catheter 100′ shown inFIG. 8 eliminates the reservoir 132 of the catheter 100 illustrated in,for example, FIG. 1. As shown, the hub 108 of the intravascular catheter100′ substitutes a lumen 188 for the reservoir 132 described above. Thelumen 188, unlike the reservoir 132 of the previous embodiments, has across-sectional diameter 192 that is substantially equal in size to thecross-sectional diameter 140 of the lumen 120 of the elongated tubularmember 104. The lumen 188 of the hub 108 extends from the first end 124of the hub 108 to the second end 128 of the hub 108 and is in fluidcommunication with the lumen 120 of the elongated tubular member 104. Inone embodiment, the lumen 120 of the elongated tubular member 104 andthe lumen 188 of the hub 108 are cylindrically-shaped and circular incross-section. Alternatively, the lumen 120 of the elongated tubularmember 104 and the lumen 188 of the hub 108 may be constructed to haveany geometrical shape. The intravascular catheter 100′ further includesat least one air permeable porous member 196.

As shown in FIG. 8, according to one embodiment of the invention, theintravascular catheter 100′ includes two air permeable porous members196, such as, for example, the air permeable membrane 168 and the firstsealing gland 144. Alternatively, the intravascular catheter 100′includes one (e.g., only the air permeable membrane 168 or only thefirst sealing gland 144), three, or more air permeable porous members196. In yet another embodiment, the entire hub 108 is constructed of anair permeable porous member 196, such that the entire hub 108 isbreathable to air.

In one embodiment, the air permeable porous member 196 is fabricatedfrom a porous material that allows introduced air bubbles 156 topassively exit (i.e., without physician intervention) through the poresinto the surrounding environment outside the patient. The air permeableporous member 196 does not allow, however, any blood to exittherethrough. Specifically, the pore sizes of the air permeable porousmember 196 are smaller than the size of red blood cells or white bloodcells, but larger than the air molecules forming the air bubbles 156. Inparticular, the pore sizes may be in the range of about 0.01 μm to about4.0 μm, preferably about 0.1 μm to about 1.0 μm. The porous materialfrom which the air permeable porous member 196 is fabricated may be anypolymer foam fabricated from material such as silicone, polyurethane,and/or a thermoplastic elastomer (e.g.,styrene-ethylene-butadiene-styrene (SEBS)). Alternatively, the porousmaterial from which the air permeable porous member 196 is fabricatedmay be any polymer film or fabric, such as, for example, woven orknitted polyester, expanded polytetrafluoroethylene (ePTFE) (i.e.,GORE-TEX®), polyethyle-teraphalate film, polyethylene film, and/orpolyvinyl alcohol (PVA) film.

In another embodiment, the air permeable porous member 196 is coatedwith or impregnated with a low thrombogenicity material. For example,the air permeable porous member 196 may be coated and/or impregnatedwith heparin, hyaluronic acid, and/or another anti-thrombotic coating,agent, mammalian genetic and recombinant genetic material, or drug.

In another aspect, the invention provides a method for introducing adevice, such as, for example, another catheter (e.g., an angiocatheter),a stent, a filter, a septal occluder, a device for obliterating the leftatrial appendage, a suture, a staple, or an adhesive, into the body of apatient through the intravascular catheter 100 or 100′ according to theinvention. In operation, the physician inserts the intravascularcatheter 100 or 100′ into a vessel of the patient, such as, for example,a patient's femoral vein or femoral artery. In one embodiment, theintravascular catheter 100 or 100′ is inserted such that the long axis160 of a proximal portion of the intravascular catheter 100 or 100′ issubstantially horizontal. The physician then inserts the device 152 intothe hub 108 and advances the device 152 into the lumen 120 of theelongated tubular member 104. As described above, air bubbles 156introduced into the hub 108 by inserting the device 152 therein areimpeded from migrating distal to the second end 128 of the hub 108 andinto the lumen 120 of the elongated tubular member 104. Specifically, asdescribed above, the air bubbles 156 are impeded from migrating into thelumen 120 of the elongated tubular member 104 and/or caused to exit intothe surrounding environment outside the patient by any one of, orcombination of, a reservoir 132, a pocket 138, an air release valve 172,an air permeable membrane 168, a porous first sealing gland 144, aflushing port 176, and/or a second sealing gland 148 that is impermeableto air. As such, in accordance with the method of the invention, thedevice 152 may be inserted into the indwelling intravascular catheter100 or 100′ and itself delivered, or used to deliver another device,into the patient's vascular system without also introducing air into thepatient's vascular system. Adverse consequences, such as, for example,acute pulmonary embolism, myocardial infarction, stroke, and possiblydeath, are, therefore, avoided.

Variations, modifications, and other implementations of what isdescribed herein will occur to those of ordinary skill in the artwithout departing from the spirit and the scope of the invention. Theinvention is not to be defined only by the preceding illustrativedescription.

1. An intravascular catheter, comprising: an elongated tubular membercomprising a proximal end, a distal end, and a lumen extending from theproximal end to the distal end; and a hub comprising a first end, asecond end, and a reservoir comprising at least one pocket, wherein thesecond end of the hub is coupled to the proximal end of the elongatedtubular member, the hub reservoir extends from the first end of the hubto the second end of the hub, and the at least one pocket of the hubreservoir is partially shielded from the lumen of the elongated tubularmember.
 2. The catheter of claim 1, wherein at least a portion of thehub reservoir comprises a cross-sectional diameter greater in size thana cross-sectional diameter of the lumen of the elongated tubular member.3. The catheter of claim 1, wherein the hub further comprises a valve.4. The catheter of claim 1, wherein the hub further comprises an airpermeable membrane.
 5. The catheter of claim 4, wherein the airpermeable membrane is positioned through a surface of the hub betweenthe first end of the hub and the second end of the hub.
 6. The catheterof claim 4, wherein the air permeable membrane is positioned through asurface of the hub at at least one of the first end and the second endof the hub.
 7. The catheter of claim 1, wherein the hub furthercomprises a first sealing gland.
 8. The catheter of claim 7, wherein thefirst sealing gland is positioned at the first end of the hub.
 9. Thecatheter of claim 8, wherein at least a portion of a distal surface ofthe first sealing gland is angled towards the first end of the hub. 10.The catheter of claim 7, wherein the first sealing gland comprises aplurality of pores.
 11. The catheter of claim 7, wherein the hub furthercomprises a second sealing gland.
 12. The catheter of claim 11, whereinthe second sealing gland is positioned at the second end of the hub. 13.The catheter of claim 12, wherein at least a portion of a proximalsurface of the second sealing gland is angled towards the second end ofthe hub.
 14. The catheter of claim 1, wherein the hub further comprisesa flushing port.
 15. The catheter of claim 1, wherein the hub furthercomprises an opening at the first end of the hub and wherein the openingis in fluid communication with the hub reservoir.
 16. The catheter ofclaim 1, wherein the hub further comprises a transparent material. 17.An intravascular catheter, comprising: an elongated tubular membercomprising a proximal end, a distal end, and a first lumen extendingfrom the proximal end to the distal end; and a hub comprising a firstend, a second end coupled to the proximal end of the elongated tubularmember, a second lumen extending from the first end of the hub to thesecond end of the hub, and an air permeable porous member.
 18. Thecatheter of claim 17, wherein the air permeable porous member comprisesa gland positioned at the first end of the hub.
 19. The catheter ofclaim 17, wherein the air permeable porous member comprises a membranepositioned between the first end of the hub and the second end of thehub.
 20. The catheter of claim 17, wherein the air permeable porousmember comprises a low thrombogenicity material.
 21. The catheter ofclaim 20, wherein the low thrombogenicity material comprises heparin.22. The catheter of claim 20, wherein the low thrombogenicity materialcomprises hyaluronic acid.
 23. A method for inserting an intravascularcatheter into the body of a patient, comprising: providing theintravascular catheter comprising: an elongated tubular membercomprising a proximal end, a distal end, and a lumen extending from theproximal end to the distal end; and a hub comprising a first end, asecond end, and a reservoir comprising at least one pocket, wherein thesecond end of the hub is coupled to the proximal end of the elongatedtubular member, the hub reservoir extends from the first end of the hubto the second end of the hub, and the at least one pocket of the hubreservoir is partially shielded from the lumen of the elongated tubularmember; and inserting the intravascular catheter into a vessel of thepatient.
 24. A method for inserting an intravascular catheter into thebody of a patient, comprising: providing the intravascular cathetercomprising: an elongated tubular member comprising a proximal end, adistal end, and a first lumen extending from the proximal end to thedistal end; and a hub comprising a first end, a second end coupled tothe proximal end of the elongated tubular member, a second lumenextending from the first end of the hub to the second end of the hub,and an air permeable porous member; and inserting the intravascularcatheter into a vessel of the patient.